I didn’t want 2018 to leave without saying goodbye. In many ways the year was wonderful, and in many ways it sucked. The purpose of this post isn’t to dwell on the sucky parts but to revisit all that Mother Nature brought me one year ago. Let’s begin.

Remember my coyote? He stopped by early one January morning and walked across the frozen river to say hello.

And then there was this guy (or gal). He/she helped him/herself to a nice duck dinner. Orange sauce, anyone?

Not to be outdone, a hawk enjoyed his/her own tender duckling. I was left with feathers and a pair of feet to clean up.

January 2018 also brought frigid cold temperatures and snow.

Mourning dove, one cold dawn in January.

My ducks doing what they do best — eating.

A lot happened to my ducks back in January, 2018. Being eaten by assorted birds of prey, freezing their little duck feet in the snow or on the ice. I hope this January is kinder to my ducks. So far they seem to be doing okay. The river isn’t frozen…

January, 2018

January, 2019

…so they get to frolic in the water and even do the wild thing when they think I’m not watching, but I see them, those dirty little birds.

A Cooper’s hawk has been spending time in my tree tops.

It (I’m giving up trying to figure out if I’m looking at a male or female) must have heard about my succulent, meaty duck lunch specials.

Do these feathers make me look fat?

I don’t know what the new year holds for my little corner of the Concord River. Or me, for that matter. One thing I do know is that I’m grateful for the blessings that will come my way and those that I’ve already received.

Northern cardinal – Male

White-throated sparrow

Northern cardinal – female

Slate-colored junco – male

It’s my hope that 2019 blesses you with joy, love, abundance, and good health. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’ll visit me in the coming year.